Touched by the Wilderness (Code CS02) A 2 day tour

Pick up at place of residence in Port Elizabeth at 08:00 am and depart for the nearby mountain wilderness retreat on the border of the Little Karoo.

Leaving Port Elizabeth behind we embark on journey away from the hustle and bustle of city life and the working day. We travel for just over an hour before turning off onto the road less travelled entering a world of remote farms, surrounded by rugged fold mountains. After some distance we stop to open the first farm gate as we leave the larger road behind and travel deeper into the foothills as we approach the mountains.

Stopping to check in we continue for a short distance to the car park. Here, at the end of the track, we come to a stop, collect our luggage and equipment for it is from this spot, with the help of the camp staff, that we are required to carry our luggage for the walk along the small river bed, under ever imposing cliff faces through thick riverine vegetation. The walk is a few hundred metres and ensures that the tranquillity of this wilderness camp is left undisturbed by the sounds of our omni present modern world.

On arriving at the Camp secreted away, hardly visible under the canopy of gnarled riverine trees and on the banks of the little river we unpack our bags into our comfortable tents set on raised wooden platforms above the rocky terrain.

After settling in we unpack the picnic basket for a light lunch on the veranda and a well-deserved cup of coffee before we head out on the trail besides the river. We head out slowly through the deep canopy of river trees as we make our way up the bank of this small mountain stream stopping frequently to take in the many sights and sounds of the smaller creatures and myriad of birds that call this remote wilderness their home.

We continue further up the river bed past a deep pool in the river as we make our way to a secret cave, decorated by a number of beautiful rock paintings, delicately depicting scenes of visions seen while in deep trance like state by the early Bushmen from a by gone era.

Returning to camp after a refreshing swim in the deep amber river, we arrive in time to make the evening fire around which we will enjoy a quiet time with your companions. We prepare the evening meal to the sounds of the local troop of Baboons as they compete for the best sleeping spaces on the nearby cliffs and trees.

The towering cliff face is home to hundreds of Rock Hyrax or Dassies as they are locally known, one might be lucky to see them scurrying across the rocks and hear their chattering like alarm calls as they warn each other of impending danger.

We take our simple meal prepared on the coals of the open fire on the wide deck listening as the night encloses the camp deep within the ravine.

We soon turn into our tents where we have a restful night’s sleep under warm duvets on comfortable beds in this lovely retreat.

We wake to a refreshing cup of coffee before putting on your hiking shoes to slowly wonder around the river bed in the vicinity of the camp to experience the morning as the birdlife heralds the new day.

On your return to our camp after a short walk Alan Tours will have prepared your breakfast on the open fire. After a hearty bush breakfast we pack up our luggage and prepare to leave this wilderness wonderland. With some help we porter our luggage to the tour vehicle and depart for the nearby Addo Elephant National Park, approximately an hour’s drive away.

We check into Addo and commence our guided game viewing experience. At midday we return to the park restaurant for a light lunch and a drink before once again setting out to view the wildlife in this popular Big 5 national park with over 700 free roaming African elephants amongst the many other species of antelope, zebra, warthog and a wide variety of colourful birds, reptiles and interesting insects. We discuss the unique vegetation and the sub-tropical thickets as we search for the many interesting creature that seem to enjoy our company as much as we do theirs.

After a full day spent enjoying the natural bio-diversity of this region we return to Port Elizabeth where we drop you off at your place of residence and the end of the tour.